Heaven In A Cup: Madge Coffee

Coffee is a staple in my life as I get daily headaches without a dose of it.

I have been a coffee-taker since high school: starting out with that raspberry blend in Ground Coffee on Mondays after class, going with the flow at Coffee Break, having my first gourmet cup at Starbucks, progressing to Bo’s & eventually trying (and failing) at making my own coffee. Heck, even my email address ID is drivenbycaffeine. So you can tell that yes indeed, I love my coffee. And tea. And cafes for that matter.

Most of the time, I take anything caramel-based or lattes. I am not a fan of frappucinos because I think whipped cream defeats the sole purpose of tasting what coffee should taste like: warm, comforting & that strong but sweet flavour that rushes through your veins & arteries. And what I call a good cuppa joe leaves a lingering taste in my tongue. And sometimes, simple things are the ones that deliver the most. And sometimes these fancy cafes can’t even serve good, simple coffee. Which is why Madge Coffee tops my list.

Inside the Lapaz Public Market is a hidden gem that serves the best coffee in Iloilo City, hands down. Madge Coffee has been around since the 1940’s & I could distinctly remember my parents bringing me here with them after those early morning marketing trips when I was little. It has only been recently that I have tried to become a regular customer. Albeit a bit out of the way, I try to drop by everyday for my regular dose of caffeine. If you care about your coffee & not about atmosphere, then this place is for you. Tons of people seem not to care when they have tried a cup. Madge has had several citations in food magazines, TV shows, newspapers & even foreign blogs. Talk about good coffee!

At Madge, you spend a whopping amount of (wait for it) — Php20 for coffee sent from heaven. Php30 if you like it iced. All blends go well with the puto, ibos & bread that they have available on hand. What amazes me aside from the coffee is the fact that all the workers already know if I prefer my coffee strong, mild or with milk. The traditional way of preparing coffee (no espresso machines or coffee makers) is a sight that fascinates as well.

A large portion of the cafe’s walls are covered in mugs with names of regular customers. Some of them have even been customers for 15 years, imagine that! Another point of interest is that even bigtime politicians, health buffs & businessmen prefer to visit this place for their regular cuppa joe & debate (quite loudly) about the latest events to hit Iloilo city.

One day perhaps, I could own my own mug. But for the time being, I continue to enjoy a simple glass or cup of coffee in the busy bustle of the market while I space out in utter enthrallment at a place with so much history. Indeed, the simple things in life can make you the happiest.

Hello Nang Jill! Me and my friends (Raffy, Erk, Nika and Jax) went to Madge’s because of this blog post!!! HAHA. Their coffee was very mouth-gasmic [excuse the expression ;)]. It’s already one of our ‘secret sanctuaries’ and we now hang out at Madge’s all the time! ❤